Saliva ejector



C. L. HUTSON SALIVA EJECTOR May 6, 1952 Filed May 5, 1949 CZ/FFORD Z. H/TSON,

INVENTOR.

BY .a/W 62kg QIQTTOQ/VE).

Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SALIVA EJECTOR Clifford L. Hutson, Glendale, Calif. Application May 3, 1949, Serial No. 91,100

Claims. (Cl. 32-33) This invention relates to apparatus used in the dental and oral surgery professions; more particularly it relates to such apparatus known as saliva ejectors.

Saliva ejectors are extensively used by dentists and the like for removing liquid such as saliva,

blood from bleeding gums, water as used in drilling and polishing, from the patients mouth, and for dental work generally. Such ejectors comprise an inverted U-shaped tube or goose neck adapted to hook over the patients lower lip and front teeth with its end contacting, or closely spaced from, the tissues of the anterior portion of the mouth. This inner end is commonly provided with a detachable tip or nozzle having a plurality of small openings for admitting liquid in response to suction applied to the outer end of the tube in a known manner.

Devices so arranged are difiicult to clean and render sterile, since minute particles of solid matter lodge in the small openings of the tip and are not dislodged by the usual sterilizing operation, but must be removed by hand. Solid matter likewise collects in the eduction tube and is difficult to remove, since the considerable length of the tube and its curved configuration prevent the ready insertion and passage therethrough of a wire or other flexible cleaning element. In a saliva ejector for use in oral surgery, the outer end portion of the eductor tube is merely inclined at a small angle instead of being formed as a goose neck, the device being held by an assistant to properly position and direct the inlet nozzle or tip.

Such nozzles or tips are commonly of metal or other non-yielding material and thus are apt to interfere with the use of metal instruments in a restricted field of operation. They also usually have few inlet openings and are thus subject to tissue lock caused by the tissues being sucked tightly against the openings when the nozzle is accidentally brought into contact with the tissues. In addition to the foregoing, surgical saliva ejectors are subject to the difficulties of cleaning and sterilization just discussed in connection with dental saliva ejectors.

It is accordingly an important object of this invention to provide a saliva ejector which may be readily rendered clean and sterile.

It is another object of this invention to provide a saliva ejector in which those parts difiicult to clean are disposable, the remaining parts having only straight relatively short passages which are readily accessible for cleaning.

It is another object of this invention 'GO provide a saliva ejector having a nozzle or tip of readily yieldable resilient material so as to avoid injury to the tissues or interference with other instruments and having a sufficient number of openings to avoid tissue lock.

It is another object of this invention to provide a saliva ejector in which the main portion of the eductor tube comprises a piece of commercial rubber tubing of suitable size and length detachably mounted on a frame which supports and maintains the tube in its proper configuration.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown several forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms, which illustrate the general principles of the invention, will now be described in detail; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a saliva ejector incorporating the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the device of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale, partly broken away to reduce the size of the figure;

Figures 3 and 4 are cross sections taken substantially as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines on Figure 2; and

Figures 5 and 6 are views corresponding respectively with Figures 1 and 2, but showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to Figures '1 to 4 of the drawing, a dentists saliva ejector is shown and comprises a frame 5, formed of metal or a suitable plastic, with an intermediate forming portion 6, a channel I longitudinally curved in the form of a goose neck, and tubular end portions 8 and 9. A flexible conduit or eduction tube 10, for example a piece of rubber tubing of suitable size and length, is confined in the channel 1 by bein detachably secured to the end portions 8 and 9, for which purpose the end pieces 8 and 9 have respectively reduced tubular pro ections I 2 and I3 adapted to fit ti htlv within the opposite ends of the tube or conduit Ill.

The end piece 8 on the vertical leg of the member 6 has a cyl ndric l bod ada ted to accommodate the end of the suction tube l4 (Figure 1). The other end piece 9 has the tip or suction nozzle [5 mounted thereon. This tip i comprises a cylindrical hollow body 16 closed at its outer end and having a plurality of small openings ll through the side and end walls. It is preferably made of soft natural or artificial rubber so as to yield to the tissues, eliminating possibility of pain or injury. The tip [5 may be disposed of after use or, if desired, may be made of a high grade heat resisting material, permitting sterilization and re-use.

For mounting the tip IS on the end piece 9, the end piece has a reduced external cylindrical surface 18 With an annular rib I9 over which the tip body I5 extends, the distortion of the body by the rib serving to frictionally retain the tip. The tip may be readily installed and removed by slipping it over the rib I9. To prevent excessive distortion of the tip [5 by lateral force, the end piece 9 has an extension 20 within the tip and of such diameter as to provide clearance with the sides and end of the tip.

The intermediate member 6 is secured to the end pieces 8 and 9 by the aid of cylindrical bands 22 and 23 formed integrally at the opposite ends of the member 6 and telescopically engaging the reduced portions 24 and 25 respectively and abutting the annular shoulders 26 and 21 formed thereby. Thus, the member 6 may be made from a piece of tubing stock by removing stock from the tube, as by a milling operation, to substantially half its diameter except at the ends which thus form the bands 22 and 23; 01: the member 6 may be formed by rolling a flat piece of material of appropriate lengthand width, the end portions being wider to .form the bands.

As shown, the channel I has an arcuate cross section, the bands 22 and 23 having the same radius as the channel. Further, as shown in Figure 4, the tube mounting projections 12 and [3 are coaxial with the member 6 and provide therewith an annular space 28 for accommodating-thewall of the conduit 10. Itis to be noted that the passages in the end pieces'8 and 9 are straight and quite short, and thus are readily cleaned upon removal of the tube I9 and the tip l5. The frame 5 has the configuration of a conventional saliva ejector and the device is used in the usual way.

The ejector shown in Figures 5 and 6, is adapted for use in dental surgery and is generally similar in construction to that form' of the invention just described. This ejector comprises a frame 35,with an intermediate member 35 providing an arcuate channel 31 for a flexible conduit or eduction tube 40 detachably held therein by the aid of the tubular end pieces 38 and 39. The channel 31 is longitudinally curved but with the end pieces disposed at a lesser angle than in the previous form. The end piece 38 has a conical exterior 42 for accommodating the suction tube ll and an annular face 44 to which one end of the member 36 is secured, the other end being secured in an arcuaterecess 43 in the end piece 39.

The tip or suction nozzle 45 is detachably secured on a reduced extension 46 of the end piece 39 by'the aid of an annular rib 4'! as before. The nozzle 45 has a central opening &8 defined by a wall 49 tapering so as to be quite thin and hence very flexible at the outer end of the nozzle, the nozzle being formed of readily yieldable resilient material such as natural or artificial rubber. To avoid tissue lock, apertures 59 may be provided near the outer end of the nozzle wall 49.

I claim:

1. In a saliva ejector: a frame including an elongated member providing a longitudinal channel for embracing and supporting a flexible conduit, and tubular end portions on said member, having tubular projections extending inwardly therefrom to engage and detachably hold said flexible conduit in said channel.

2. In a saliva ejector: a frame including an elongated member having throughout the length thereof a channel open on one side thereof, and a flexible conduit removably seated in said channel, end portions on said member respectively having straight through passages adapted to communicate through said conduit and tubular projections on said end portions engageable with the ends of said conduit for securing said conduit in said channel.

3. In a saliva ejector: means forming a frame providing a longitudinal channel open along one side for the major portion of the length thereof for supporting a flexible conduit in a desired con.- figuration, and having means adjacent/its opposite ends providing short tubular portions, and respectively adapted to engage the end portions of said conduit, for releasably securing the conduit in said channel, with said conduit communicating the bores of said tubular portions.

4. In a saliva ejector: means forming a frame providing a channel for supporting a flexible conduit in a desired configuration, and having means adjacent its opposite ends providing short tubular passages, said means respectively having inwardly directed tubular projections opposed to and spaced from the inner surface of said channel, for engaging the conduit adjacent its opposite ends for releasably retaining the conduit, said means including tubular projections extending outwardly from said frame for respectively accommodatinga suction tube and an intake nozzle. I

5. In a saliva ejector: a rigid elongated member curved in cross section and longitudinally forming channel for supporting a flexible conduit in a desired configuration and members secured respectively to the opposite ends thereof. having tubular projections adapted to engage respectively the opposite ends of said conduit for releasably securing it to said frame.

6. In a saliva ejector: a rigid frame including a longitudinally curved member having an intermediate portion with a transversely curved cross section and forming a channel for supporting a flexible conduit, said cross section being defined by a circular sector, and tubular end members having projections extending into said channel, engageable with the ends of said conduit to releasably secure said conduit in said channel and having through passages respectively opening into said conduit, said end members being secured respectively to the opposite ends of said intermediate portion, at least one of said end members having a portion with a radius equal to that of said sector for accommodating the end portion of said channel forming member.

7. In a saliva ejector: a rigid frame including a longitudinally curved member having an intermediate portion with a transversely curved cross section and forming a channel for supporting a flexible conduit, said cross section beingdefined by a circular sector, and having a cylindrical band at one end of the same radius as'said sector; and end members adapted to releasably secure said conduit in said channel and having through passages respectively opening into said conduit, said members being secured respectively to the opposite ends of said intermediate portion, at least one of said end members having a cylindrical portion for receiving said band, there being an annular shoulder on said cylindrical portion for engaging said band.

8. In a saliva ejector: a frame including a longitudinally curved member having an intermediate portion with a transversely curved cross section and forming a channel for supporting a flexible conduit, and end. members having reduced tubular projections adapted to releasably secure said conduit in said channel, said end members being secured respectively to the opposite ends of said curved member, said projections extending into said channel and having a lesser radius than said curved portion, whereby to provide a space for the wall of said conduit.

9. In a saliva ejector: means forming a flexible eductor tube, an end member having a pair of rigid tubular extensions, one of said extensions having a telescopic detachable connection with said tube; and a nozzle of readily yieldable resilient material having its inner end telescopically accommodated on the other of said extension, an axially directed opening at its outer end, and a plurality of radially directed openings through its side wall. v

10. In a saliva ejector: means forming a flexible eductor tube, a tubular end member having a pair of rigid oppositely directed extensions, one of said extensions having a detachable telescopic connection with said tube; and a nozzle of readily yieldable resilient material having its inner end telescopically accommodated on the other of said extensions; a second end member having a rigid extension for telescopically engaging said tube, and a rigid member extending between and joined to said end members and being curved in cross section to form a channel in which said tube is seated.

CLIFFORD L. HUTSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES S. S. White, Dental Engines and Equipment Catalog B 1895, page 34. 

